Our Staff

Management Team

Makala Jasper

Makala Jasper – Chief Executive Officer

BSc in Forestry; MBA Candidate in Leadership and Sustainability. I have been working for MCDI ever since it was established in 2004. I am passionate about our cause, because of the tangible changes we bring to the lives of poor people. Our strategy of bringing about development through forest conservation is very important and it makes us unique. When I am not working I enjoy travelling, because you can learn a lot from exploring news things in life.

Likes: traditional Tanzanian dishesDislikes: drinking beer

Jonas Timothy

Jonas Timothy – Director of Field Operations

Diploma in Forestry. I have been working for MCDI since its inception in 2004, and still enjoy it every day! This might be because I love 'the bush life' and staying outdoors, which I can do a lot during my visits to the communities where we work. My favorite moments are evenings staying around a camp fire, hearing stories from different groups of people. My favourite animals are African hunting dogs.

Likes: beerDislikes: strong spirits

Glory Massao

Glory Massao – Group Certification Manager (FSC)

MSc in Management of Natural Resources and Sustainable Agriculture. I started working for MCDI in 2010. My favorite parts of the job are working with my fantastic colleagues, who all are equally committed to the work we are doing. I also enjoy visiting the villages where we work; sometimes it takes time for local people to grasp the processes involved in managing their forests, but the feeling when they really understand and are grateful is very rewarding.

MSc Candidate in GIS and Natural Resources Management; BSc in Environmental Scene Management. I've been working with MCDI since 2010, before which I worked for WWF-Tanzania as a voluntary Technical Field Assistant. This job is an adventure to me because I love nature and interacting with different people. It's also so rewarding to be able to actually see the benefits nature can provide when communities act to manage it responsibly - it truly changes lives. In my spare time I like travelling to experience new ideas and cultures.

Likes: seafood, cold beer and fresh juiceDislikes: soda

Abigail Wills

Abigail Wills –Technical Adviser

MSc by Research in Biodiversity Management. I began working for MCDI in 2014 after spending 8 months living and working in Madagascar, where I was researching subsistence use of mangrove forests and the dynamics of bushmeat trade on the island. Working for MCDI is very rewarding, knowing that we are making real, positive changes to the environment and people's lives. I love travelling and learning more about the Tanzanian culture.

Likes: beans on toast and English teaDislikes: liquorice

Doreen Karan

Doreen Karan– Finance Officer

CPA holder, certified by NBAA(National Board of Accountants and Auditors). I have been working at MCDI for 3 years. I enjoy the positive working environment and good management of the organization. If I had not been in finance, I would have liked to become a Field Officer, simply because they have the most frequent interaction with communities where we work and the chance to see the impacts of our work on the ground. Besides working, I like to read novels or to relax with movies.

Likes: water, the color white, and cats and dogsDislikes: soda, beer, eggplant, or millipedes and centipedes

Emme Abel

Emme Abel – Finance Officer

Advanced Diploma in Accounting. Throughout my career I have been working in finance departments of several organizations. I started working for MCDI in 2012, and enjoy learning about the importance of conserving community forests - the work is very rewarding because of all of the positive changes we have helped bring about. In my spare time I like singing gospel songs and enjoy farming.

BSc in Information Communication Technology. I have been interested in IT ever since I was young and studied computing at university. I have been working for MCDI since 2015, where I enjoy being able to help my colleagues with their (many!) computer crises, and get motivated when I see villagers excited about our support. When I am not working I love to relax and to chat with friends.

Likes: my favorite food is ugali with fish and I like to drink water. I also like the rainy season in Tanzania when it isn't too hotDislikes: Wasting time

The Rest of Our Team

Fredson Mwendo

Fredson Mwendo - Governance and Livelihoods Officer

BSc in Agricultural Education and Extension; Postgraduate Diploma in Education. I began working for MCDI in 2010 after working as a Government Environmental Education Officer in the Ministry of Education. I decided to make the move to fulfil my dreams to work with rural communities in conserving the beauty of Tanzania's natural environment. I enjoy my work because it exposes me to an array of different people, and I am able to learn from their different ways of living; being in the field gives me a sense of freedom. In my spare time, I like gardening and listening to the birds.

Bachelor of Arts with Education (Geography). I've been employed by MCDI since 2013, and enjoy working with nature and forests; seeing the benefits they bring to local people's livelihoods. In my spare time I enjoy listening to music as a way to refresh and clear my mind.

Bachelor of Arts with Education. I started working for MCDI in 2013. I really enjoy it because we work as a team we understand each other and live like a family; staff are so kind the door is open to anybody who wants to learn more about what we do here. Our interaction with communities is also next to none and we help them realise the benefits of forests for their livelihoods, so they understand and become fully committed to preserving them. After work, I normally like to make stories with my friends and exchange ideas about work.

BSc in Cultural Anthropology and Tourism. I worked as a part time tutor at the National College of Tourism before starting at MCDI in 2013. I like how supportive the management team at MCDI is, and in general the good working atmosphere and cooperation between staff. At the weekends, I like to go dancing and to watch movies.

BSc in Wildlife Management and Tourism. I have been working at MCDI for more than 4 years. Before I started here, I was worked for KINAPA (Kilimanjaro National Park) in the tourism office, and for WWF-Tanzania in the conservation office. What I like about working for MCDI is that it gives me a chance to work closely with communities, and to help them conserve their local environment. When I am not working I like to travel, listen to music or just relax.

Likes: fruits, the colour green, and when it is rainingDislikes: foods and drink with lots of sugar

Hamisi Ulega

Hamisi Ulega – Field Officer

I have been working for MCDI since 2014. I enjoy the opportunities to learn from the communities where we work, and also the sense of teamwork I have with my co-workers. In my spare time I enjoy watching action movies.

Likes: eating pilau (spiced rice with beef)Dislikes: beer

Joseph Protas

Joseph Protas – Field Officer

BSc in Environmental Sciences and Management. I've been working for MCDI since August 2014. I especially enjoy visiting the villages where we work and watching communities really get engaged in forests conservation activities and earning money from sustainable timber. In my spare time at the weekends I like watching movies or football.

Likes: soft drinksDislikes: smoking cigarettes and drinking beer

Yesaya Maghimbi

Yesaya Maghimbi – Field Officer

Diploma in Forestry. I have been working with MCDI since October 2015 and like working in forest and conserving nature for the society. I especially enjoy creating awareness of the benefits forests can bring to improve local people's livelihoods, and knowing about this motivates me in my work.

Likes: camping, hiking and moviesDislikes: smoking

Yusuph Kiangio

Yusuph Kiangio - Field Officer

BSc in Forestry. I joined MCDI in September of 2016, and enjoy working with rural communities to ensure conservation of their forests for future generations.

Likes: reading news papers and storiesDislikes: cassava

Trezia Nyika

Trezia Nyika – Accounts Clerk

Diploma in Community Development. I began working for MCDI after receiving my Diploma. I am passionate about this line of work because I like to serve communities by helping them to participate in forest conservation. Besides that, the organisation is very supportive to its staff and my colleagues are great.

I've been with MCDI since 2013. As a driver, I enjoy it when we expand to new villages, so that I can travel to new places and see the forests they have there. I am a mechanic and chainsaw operator by trade.

Likes: Fruit juiceDislikes: Gossip

Yusuph Kassim

Yusuph Kassim – Driver Cum Mechanic

I've been working for MCDI since 2011. I'm a mechanic by trade, and love driving through dense forest, on the rough roads. In my spare time I enjoy watching football.

Likes: Remote and peaceful environmentsDislikes: Being ignored or undermined

Abdallah Omar

Abdallah Omar – Driver Cum Mechanic

I have been working as a driver and mechanic for MCDI since 2009, and I enjoy my work because I feel that there is real value in conserving forests.

Likes: Spending time with my familyDislikes: Quitting

Fatuma Saidi

Fatuma Saidi – Office Assistant

I have been working for MCDI since 2009, and have a background in cooking and cleaning. In my spare time, I enjoy dancing to traditional music.